by Michael Winter, USA TODAY

by Michael Winter, USA TODAY

Michael Smith always packs a pistol, even asleep or showering or yelling at tree trimmers who wake him up.

And though it's only a tattoo, the inky realism of his gun on the gut prompted a Maine State Police SWAT team to surround the night-worker's home Tuesday morning for a few tense minutes.

"Obviously it was a misunderstanding and he didn't have a weapon, but we had to respond to the initial report as if he did," Maine State Police Trooper Scott Duff told the Morning Sentinel.

The tree trimmers "weren't 100% sure what he was saying, but he was yelling and they thought it could be some sort of a threat," Duff said.

"We take all precautions when we don't have the details," he added.

The details, as reported:

Tree trimmers working for Central Maine Power Co. woke Smith up as they were about to cut branches around electrical lines outside his home in Norridgewock.

Wearing only pants, Smith went out into the icy day and ordered the crew from Lucas Tree Experts to get off his property. One worker saw the tattoo and, thinking Smith had a pistol in his waistband, called police.

Smith went back to bed.

Troopers armed with assault rifles showed up, surrounded his house and ordered him to come out.

Smith revealed his concealed-carry tattoo, averting tragedy.

And a good thing, too.

"I got plans today," he said after police left. "I didn't want to get shot."